Senior Duo Guide Peninsula Lacrosse Through Early Season Struggles

We have the talent. It’s just about putting it all together.”

Peninsula Lacrosse is off to a rocky start for the 2025 season, but the team isn’t short on leadership. Seniors Nathan DeLong and Nate Gendreau are doing more than filling stat sheets — they’re setting the tone for a program looking to build on last year’s state tournament run and guide a roster that will soon be in the hands of younger players. 

After reaching the state quarterfinals in 2024, the Seahawks opened this season with four straight losses, dropping their latest to undefeated Bonney Lake, 12-9, April 4. It’s a frustrating turn for a senior-heavy squad that hoped to hit the ground running. But both DeLong and Gendreau said the team is starting to find its rhythm. 

“We’ve struggled with possession,” said DeLong, a 6-foot-1 midfielder headed to play lacrosse at the College of Idaho next year. “We’re getting the ball, but sometimes rush shots instead of looking for the right opportunity.” 

DeLong, who grew up on lacrosse after following in his older brother’s footsteps, was second on the team in scoring last season with 25 goals and five assists — eighth in the league overall. He’s already scored five goals this season, including three against Bonney Lake, but he’s quick to credit others, including emerging younger players like junior faceoff specialist Mason Dahlgren and sophomore attacker Grant Harris, who he said have grown tremendously since their freshman years. 

Still, there’s no avoiding the loss of last year’s top scorer, Robby Akulschin, who finished the season leading the league with 43 goals (56 overall). “Robby left a big gap in our offense,” DeLong said. “We’ve been working hard to fill it.” 

If anyone can fill that void, it’s Gendreau. The 5-foot-11 midfielder leads the team in scoring so far with 11 goals and three assists. Like DeLong, he started playing lacrosse in fourth grade, hooked by a friend whom he now plays against at Bellarmine Prep. “I loved it right away,” Gendreau said, even giving up football after his sophomore season to focus on lacrosse. 

The two captains complement each other well on the field and share a mutual respect off it. Both are headed to play college lacrosse — DeLong for the Yotes in Caldwell, Idaho, and Gendreau for the University of Montana in Missoula. Their decisions reflect not just athletic aspirations but personal choices: DeLong plans to study medical sciences, inspired by his nurse practitioner mom, while Gendreau is eyeing a business and finance degree, drawn to Montana for its outdoor lifestyle and community feel. 

This summer, both plan to trade competition for preparation: lifting, training, and refining their skills for the next level. 

Still, their focus remains on this season. Gendreau acknowledged that he and the eight seniors need to get their younger teammates as much experience as possible. With only two juniors and five sophomores on the roster, this year’s crop of freshmen are expected to play major roles next season. 

The team has three home games left at Roy Anderson Field: April 11 against Emerald Ridge; April 28 against Enumclaw; and April 30 against Gig Harbor in the 11th annual Baggataway Bowl. The Tides won last year’s Baggataway Bowl, 16-14. It was Gig Harbor’s first win in the crosstown rivalry since 2016 and only their third overall since the annual game began in 2014. Both DeLong and Gendreau pulled off a hat trick during last year’s game, each scoring three goals. 

“We still have a chance to turn it around this season,” Gendreau said. “We have the talent. It’s just about putting it all together.”